Untitled - Workshop access

The workshop is in the X Space in the Baycourt Community & Arts Centre. Accessibility information for Baycourt is available on their website. The space is wheelchair accessible and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet available. Certified disability assist dogs and support persons are welcome in the workshop. You are encouraged to bring comfort items, such as sunnies, hats, quiet fidget toys, and hearing protection, that can help you enjoy the session. Taking breaks and moving around during the session is welcome.During the workshop we will break up into smaller groups for activities and scenarios. The main room may get noisy during these breakout sessions. One separate area will be available nearby to offer lower-sensory breakout session option. The workshop will use a large font slide presentation. And visual content will be audio described, and the group activities are all discussion based, with the choice to participate a little or a lot. We aren't providing NZSL interpreters for this workshop, but if you'd like to attend and you require interpreters, please get in touch.

Untitled - Getting there

The hui will be at The Court Theatre on 129 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central 8011. Though The Court Theatre does not have dedicated parking, there are a wide range of public parking options nearby and free on-street parking. Please check out the parking options. There are also two designated mobility parks outside the building on Gloucester Street (50 meters from the main entrance). The nearest bus stop is the Manchester Street Super Stop.

Front of House accessibility training workshop - Canterbury

Name: Front of House accessibility training workshop - Canterbury
Start: 2026-05-26T13:30:00+1200
End: 2026-05-26T16:30:00+1200
Location: The Court Theatre

Tue, 26 May, 1:30pm - 4:30pm NZST

The Court Theatre

Christchurch, New Zealand

Arts Access Aotearoa

74 followers · Contact host

Description

Welcoming Deaf and disabled visitors to your arts events: front of house accessibility workshop

Part of the new training series facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa.

Learn how to provide an accessible, dignified and equitable events experience to all visitors, and gain more confidence in your abilities to meet the needs of Deaf and disabled people. For all levels of experience with accessibility in the arts, the session is ideal for theatre, venue and event staff and anyone working in front of house and customer facing roles.

Explore topics of ableism and disability language and concepts, and dive into breakout sessions on managing scenarios such as meeting access needs, handling complaints, and solving access clashes and complex situations involving disability in performing arts events.

Leave the session with concrete knowledge you can bring back to your organisation, including sharable resources for casual staff and your wider team. Learn together with other arts organisations, to build stronger local networks and set the stage for developing collective action toward arts accessibility in your community.

Ongoing follow-up support is available to Arts For All Network members after the workshop, to embed your learnings. Check out the Arts For All Network, your arts accessibility resource available to all Kiwis.

Thank you to The Court Theatre for generously hosting this session.

Lineup

Katie Querin

This workshop is hosted by Katie Querin, Whakahohe a Toi Ōritetanga / Arts For All Activator for Arts Access Aotearoa. Katie is a disabled person who has a background working in theatre and performing arts accessibility, and she brings both lived and professional experience to the workshop.

Agenda

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Workshop details

Workshop begins with introductions around the room, to learn who is sharing the space. We'll get started discussing ablism, language, and concepts and understandings of disability. There will be time for discussion and questions. After a solid grounding in FOH's role in providing accessibility and understanding disability, we will break into groups to examine scenarios that might arise for FOH. After a break for tea, biscuits and mingling, we'll return to explore existing accessibility practices and common barriers. We'll break into groups for more scenarios on handling complaints, conflict and access clashes, and what to do when everything doesn't go to plan. We will wrap up with key takeaways and final questions to finish at 4:30pm.

Accessibility

Workshop access

The workshop is in the X Space in the Baycourt Community & Arts Centre. Accessibility information for Baycourt is available on their website.
The space is wheelchair accessible and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet available. Certified disability assist dogs and support persons are welcome in the workshop. You are encouraged to bring comfort items, such as sunnies, hats, quiet fidget toys, and hearing protection, that can help you enjoy the session. Taking breaks and moving around during the session is welcome.
During the workshop we will break up into smaller groups for activities and scenarios. The main room may get noisy during these breakout sessions. One separate area will be available nearby to offer lower-sensory breakout session option.
The workshop will use a large font slide presentation. And visual content will be audio described, and the group activities are all discussion based, with the choice to participate a little or a lot. We aren't providing NZSL interpreters for this workshop, but if you'd like to attend and you require interpreters, please get in touch.
Getting there

The hui will be at The Court Theatre on 129 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central 8011. Though The Court Theatre does not have dedicated parking, there are a wide range of public parking options nearby and free on-street parking. Please check out the parking options.
There are also two designated mobility parks outside the building on Gloucester Street (50 meters from the main entrance).
The nearest bus stop is the Manchester Street Super Stop.

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Hostinformation

Arts Access Aotearoa

74 followers

Contact host

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Arts Access Aotearoa | Putanga Toi ki Aotearoa works in partnership to increase access in the arts for people in Aotearoa who experience barriers to participation as artists, arts workers and arts lovers.This includes work in the disability, mental health and Deaf communities, and through a network of community arts organisations called creative spaces.

Through the Arts For All Network, we support individuals and organisations committed to accessible and inclusive arts. We also facilitate Taha Hōtū, a Deaf and Disabled Artists’ Initiative supporting artists to create work, build their creative practice, and develop their careers.

We advise Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections and Oranga Tamariki on its arts programmes and activities, and advocate for the arts as a tool to support rehabilitation and reintegration for people in prisons.

Arts Access Aotearoa is the leading voice for increased access to the arts. We work with government agencies, arts organisations and communities to drive change. Our Info Hub provides opportunities, resources, and research to support this mahi.